Hardcore Conservatism

The Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster: “Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink”. Is this Obama’s albatross?

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill timeline:

Deepwater Horizon rig blew on April 20, 2010 and the spill lasted 128 days:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

Concise timeline of disaster and response:

http://www.infoplease.com/world/disasters/2010-gulf-oil-spill-timeline.html

Barack Obama’s response:

Entertaining President of Mexico, Calderon, at the White House one month later, May 19, 2010.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/98843-obama-calderon-toast-their-similarities-at-state-dinner

Obama flies to California to campaign for Barbara Boxer during the primary election on May 26th, the announcement made three weeks earlier on May 5, 2010.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=7460197

President Obama entertains the US soccer team prior to the World Cup, May 26, 2010.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5220382/ce/us/us-world-cup-team-duke-visit-white-house&cc=3888?ver=global

Pres. Obama entertains Duke basketball team on May 26, 2010.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/05/27/article/ncaa_champs_duke_visits_white_house

Obama plays golf while the oil spill continues:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1290184/BP-OIL-SPILL-Youre-playing-golf-crisis-Barack-Obama-told.html

Barack Obama denies Danish governments’ help in cleaning up oil spill:

http://cniworldnews.com/blog/2010/06/10/dutch-offered-oil-spill-help-obama-says-thanks-but-no-thanks/

Obama Administration restricts research into effects of oil spill:

http://www.the-scientist.com/templates/trackable/display/news.jsp?type=news&id=57610&o_url=news/display/57610

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/08/obama_administration_prevents.php

Obama, under public criticism, finally meets with BP executive, Tony Hayward, two months after the oil rig exploded:

http://dailycaller.com/2010/06/10/in-concession-to-critics-obama-likely-to-meet-bp-chief-executive-tony-hayward/

“Obama has taken heat this week after admitting Monday he has not spoken with BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward since the company’s drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico began spewing oil into the ocean on April 22.
The president said Monday in a TV interview that he was “not interested in words” with Hayward because he assumed the oil executive would “say all the right things.”
“I’m interested in actions,” Obama told “The Today Show’s” Matt Lauer.

Effects of oil dispersants discussed:

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/583740/toxic_dispersants_in_gulf_oil_spill_creating_hidden_marine_crisis.html

The long term effects of the oil spill on the Gulf’s ecosystem may be a lot more than what is being portrayed by this administration, and it is completely possible that restricting research into the effects are keeping the information from public scrutiny. Simply put, the ocean floor has been “nuked” wherever the oil deposited, and is basically devoid of life.

http://www.maritime-connector.com/NewsDetails/11827/lang/English/Gulf-oil-spill--Scientist-finds-ocean-floor-still-oily--dead.wshtml

http://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-submarine-dive-finds-oil-dead-sea-life/story?id=12305709

Further, what little information is being leaked from independent researchers, is almost completely opposite from what the administration is stating.

Clean Water Act of 1972

President’s responsibility to ensure the clean-up MANDATED by Sec. 311 (8) of the Clean Water Act 1972:

http://www.blm.gov/nstc/WaterLaws/pdf/Chapter8.pdf

“The OPA amended the Federal authority in § 311 to respond to spills. Prior to the OPA, § 311 authorized the President to respond to discharges of oil and hazardous substances, but there was significant latitude for private cleanup efforts by the discharger. The OPA amended § 311 to mandate the President to take action to ensure “effective and immediate removal of a discharge, and mitigation or prevention of a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance.”9 The President’s removal authority is primarily carried out through the creation and implementation of facility and response plans.”

Commentary:

According to the Clean Water Act, Sec. 311(8), which was revised by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the POTUS is solely responsible for coordination of the efforts to cleanup this hazardous discharge, and do so immediately. Not only is the POTUS solely responsible, but is mandated by law to act expeditiously. The question remains who gave the orders for oil dispersants to be sprayed on the oil slick? Did the POTUS give BP “carte blanche” freedom to deal with the oil slick as they deemed appropriate? Pres. Obama has ‘some’ laxity in delegating authority, ie., US Coast Guard Admiral, Thad Allen, but is still responsible for the protection of our waters and citizens. Why weren’t the Danish boats, offered three days after the crisis began, utilized in an all out effort to minimize damage?

I believe that a strong case of negligence in this matter could be made against Pres. Obama for his mishandling of the disaster, his reticence in acting quickly as mandated by law and the apparent disconnect between reality and political spin. If what Univ. of Georgia scientist, Samantha Joye, stated is even only partially true: “The devastation, she said, could last "years or decades. It's still there and it's going to degrade very slowly”…then a case of criminal negligence needs to be considered.